"mindless entertainment" vs "true art"

[Ginger Tea]

Ginger Tea: I see what you're saying. The good guy doesn't always have to win everything. He can save the world, but he doesn't have to get the girl. Or he can fail to save the world, but save the girl. It's not always black and white. I actually like it better that way. It makes the heroic victories seem all the more satisfying if there were loses along the way. However, I don't think that means the hero living happily ever after is always bad. Sometimes it'snice to see justice at work, even if it is just in a movie.

Reminds me of the DS9 episode where Bashire was playing Bond and the crew got caught in the holodeck buffers due to a mcguffin and he couldn't kill them as they would die in real life, nor could he just quit the game. So in the end he had no choice but to activate the doomsday device himself, Sisco's villain almost pre programmed not to as a stalling mechanism. so he saved his crew by not killing their game characters, yet flooded the earth with the ice caps.

[Plaidman]

Who needs to watch Rocky movies, doesn't he always win in the last round?

I take it you haven't watched the first one nor the last one. Out of five total films, he only won three of them. It can be exicting as you honestly don't know if he going to win or not. And the bulk of the theme is to do your best anyway.

[IDrinkaRum]

This is similar to people criticizing my taste in TV or movies because they aren't works of true "art" or are just mindless cartoons and stupid reality shows or soap operas. Hey smartass, Deadliest Catch is a reality show just as much as Hell's Kitchen.

Since I don't watch smart people TV shows or read smart people books, I must be retarded.

Oh, and don't get me started on reviews or critiques. My bf's dad is religious about rottentomatoes, and if it doesn't have a good score, bf will refuse to go see that movie.

I'm with you Blas.

My husband, his family, my family, our friends all roll their eyes when they find out one of my favorite movie "actors" is Steven Seagal. Yes, Steven Seagal. I love his movies. I don't care if they're the ones that made it to the big screen or direct to video. I love his movies and his fights and all the big "ka-booms". (I only have one friend - who is no longer a friend - who loves his movies as much as me).

My favorite movie of all time is "Auntie Mame" with Rosalind Russell. Awesome movie, awesome cast, but because it's before 1972, my hubs doesn't think it exists. (That's a rant in and of itself).

Some of my fave other type of movies are silent films. (Just amazing what they chose to film and how they filmed it). And I also like 3 Stooges films/shorts. Yes, the Stooges. I heart them, not the Marx Brothers.

[AdminAssistant]

Oooh, I like silent films! We watched The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in one of my classes this semester - creepy! Although I have to disagree with you on the Marx Brothers. (One of my favorite pieces of dramatic theory, Antonin Artaud's The Theatre and Its Double has an entire chapter devoted to the film Animal Crackers. )

[IDrinkaRum]

Actually, at the On Demand section of my cable box thing, I can order The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I've seen it before. It is creepy. I need to watch it again.

I do have a lot of Steven Seagal's films on my Amazon list. My husband just shakes his head at me. But I don't care.

I know what I like, and artsy films don't cut it for me.

(And the 3 Stooges for the win! )

[Ladeeda]

My favorite movie of all time is "Auntie Mame" with Rosalind Russell. Awesome movie, awesome cast, but because it's before 1972, my hubs doesn't think it exists. (That's a rant in and of itself).

He doesn't.. wait, what? But that's an amazing movie! With an awesome lead, and interesting story, and most of it isn't a romance!

[IDrinkaRum]

My husband refuses to watch any film made before 1972 (the year he was born). So he won't watch any of my favorite films (Gypsy, West Side Story, Freaks, Auntie Mame, any Elvis movie). Though he also won't watch Jesus Christ Superstar neither (it's a musical, but he loves the TV show Glee ).

My husband has a select taste in movies. King Arthur as the subject? He must own it! Anything with knights in general? He must own it! Otherwise, it's hit or miss with him liking a film. (He does like the Iron Man movies though and movies with comic book characters too).

[AdminAssistant]

I know a lot of people who don't like musicals who just *love* Glee. Maybe it's because they're singing pop songs, or it's just an hour, or because it's television and not 'theatre'....I dunno. I'm pretty much the exact opposite. I like musicals, but don't care for Glee. I don't care how quickly they have to turn around episodes and songs, I want to hear real voices, not digitized crap. And Lea Mechele will not be the next Idina Menzel and I really wish she'd stop trying.

[IDrinkaRum]

I know a lot of people who don't like musicals who just *love* Glee. Maybe it's because they're singing pop songs, or it's just an hour, or because it's television and not 'theatre'....I dunno. I'm pretty much the exact opposite. I like musicals, but don't care for Glee. I don't care how quickly they have to turn around episodes and songs, I want to hear real voices, not digitized crap. And Lea Mechele will not be the next Idina Menzel and I really wish she'd stop trying.

OMG! I thought I was the only one on the planet who didn't like Glee.

My husband really likes the pop songs they're singing. I think that's why the show is so popular. I do admit to watching the Gwyneth Paltrow episode just because I was interested in seeing how good she was (I quite enjoyed her). However, at the end of the epi, they did a pop version of "Singing in the Rain" - which I loathed with a passion. My husband enjoyed it, but didn't understand why I was cringing as I sat there. (I love "Singing in the Rain" but the original music, I don't care who sings it but it has got to be the original music. Otherwise, it's nails on a chalkboard for me).

He also wants to know, how can the show use the music from various people/musicals (like Chicago - which is being run on Broadway or run somewhere, and the dinner theater we go to had to wait for over a year (and get special permission) to get the rights to show it on their stage).

[AdminAssistant]

I'm sure that they pay for the rights to use the songs (more later this afternoon).

ETA: Sorry, I had to dash off to class earlier.

Rights for full productions are typically limited due to competition. If a musical is on Broadway, they don't want people to be able to see it at a community or regional theatre. They want them to travel to New York and pay $120/ticket to see it (or drive to the closest major town that's a stop for the tour and pay $50/ticket). Glee doesn't offer that competition; instead, it offers exposure. Thus they're probably more willing to sell Glee the rights to individual songs. I mean, I'm sure the only reason Spring Awakening is still going on tour is that Glee renewed interest in it; several cast members were in the Broadway production and I've been told that they've performed a few of the songs.

[b2addm]

OMG! I thought I was the only one on the planet who didn't like Glee.

Well now there's 3 of us.
No, wait, 4 of us. My husband doesn't like it either.

And I also like musicals. Just not Glee.

[telecom_goddess]

What I find interesting in the argument of mindless entertainment vs art, Charlie Chaplin is an excellent example of someone who hid messages and art inside mindless entertainment. His films gave out a message, it's up to the viewer to be able to receive it.

As for me I prefer the arty more independent films, ones that make you think. I also prefer an original idea to the same old recycled crap. Anything original gets points with me.

There are very few comedies I have a stomach for....but some classics are The Birdcage and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And god help me Howard Stern's Private Parts. I can't stand him but love that movie and thought he did an amazing job there. Read his book too...hilarious.

[blas87]

I despise Glee. That makes a few of us at least

[Rageaholic]

Make that 6 on the glee haters. Okay, I don't hate the show, but I have no interest in watching it. I don't like musicals, and I don't like shows about High School. Put them together, and you get Glee.

Of course, if I had to choose between Glee and High School Musical, I would pick Glee.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

If I had to choose between Glee and High School Musical I'd kill the person responsible for foisting that choice on me and go read a book.